A RADIOLOGICAL LEGACY: RADIOACTIVE RESIDUES OF THE COLD

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International Atomic Energy Agency

1999

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Adominating feature of the historical period known as the Cold War was the large-scale production

and testing of nuclear weapons. These military activities brought with them an unprecedented

generation of radioactive substances. A fraction of these “Cold War residues” ended up in the

atmosphere and were dispersed throughout the world.

Some remained in relatively isolated states in underground geological environments at the

production or test site. Others have contaminated areas at times accessible to humans.

Augmenting this picture are other scenes of a Cold War legacy. Large amounts of radioactive

waste and byproducts are in storage from the production of weapons material. At some point, they

are expected to be converted to peaceful applications or sent for final disposal.

Moreover, production facilities for military nuclear materials, nuclear test sites, and nuclear-powered

military vessels all will be decommissioned at some stage — at the Kola Peninsula alone, a

hundred out-of-service nuclear submarines are awaiting final decommissioning. The process will add

to the accumulation of radioactive residues.

It would now seem that the Cold War has become just another chapter in history. The Treaty

Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water marked the

end of nuclearweapon testing in the open environment and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test- Ban

Treaty may end nuclearweapons testing altogether.

Further treaties will constrain, and hopefully ban, the production of weapons material. All this is

good news. Yet the Cold War’s radioactive residues remain for our generation to deal with, and they

are demanding effective responses.

Over the past decade, the IAEA has been asked to play a greater role in helping countries address

this Cold War legacy. A number of scientific assessments of radiological situations created by the

Cold War have been carried out by experts convened by the IAEA — at nuclear test sites, nuclear

production facilities, and waste dumping sites.

This edition of the IAEA Bulletin highlights these cooperative activities in the context of international

developments and concerns.